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German side Bayern Munich face an early true test of their title-contention credentials when they host English champions Arsenal on Wednesday in the third round of the Champions League unified group stage, but they will do so without their in-form French winger Michael Olise.
Olise, born in London who began his career in Arsenal's youth ranks, is suspended after receiving two yellow cards within a minute during Bayern's disappointing 3-3 draw with Norway's Viking last week.
After receiving a first caution for committing a foul, Olise, who appeared clearly frustrated, reacted to a verbal provocation from Viking's Croatian-origin captain Zlatko Tripic by throwing the ball at his head, earning the first red card of his career.
After being nominated for the Ballon d'Or thanks to his standout performances last season, the former Crystal Palace winger has continued his fine form this season.
Olise has scored nine goals and provided five assists in 10 appearances for Bayern across all competitions.
With Jamal Musiala struggling with injury and illness, and both Serge Gnabry and Lennart Karl seeing dips in form, Olise and the ever-reliable English striker Harry Kane have carried Bayern's attacking burden so far this season.
The England captain has scored nine goals and provided six assists in 10 matches.
When Bayern were trailing 2-0 away to Viking last week, Kane almost single-handedly led the comeback, scoring twice and setting up another.
Kane said after Bayern's crushing 6-1 win over Leipzig in the Bundesliga on Saturday that the team will miss Olise's impact, but called on the rest of the star-studded squad to step up and take responsibility.
He added, "When you miss one of your most important players, you will certainly feel it, but this is where others must step up and show they can seize their opportunity. We talk a lot about the depth of the squad, and we talk about the need for everyone to be ready for the right moment, and whoever plays must be ready."
Colombian Luis Diaz's performance was among the many positives the team took from Saturday's sweeping victory over Leipzig.
The 29-year-old had been frustrated after a modest start to the season, but scored three goals and provided another assist in one of his best matches since moving from English side Liverpool in 2025.
- "One of the best teams in Europe" -
Despite moving from north London to the Bavarian capital in 2023, Kane has seen plenty of Arsenal since joining Bayern.
Bayern met the "Gunners" in the 2023-2024 quarter-finals, advancing by just a single goal, but suffered a 1-3 defeat in the unified group stage of last season's edition.
With domestic and international matches coming thick and fast, Kane has found no time to exchange friendly chats with his Arsenal rivals.
He explained, "I spoke to them a little bit during the previous international break and we knew the game was coming, but I think we are all too busy to exchange messages now, with a game every three days."
The resounding win over Leipzig showed once again that the German football giant is superior to its domestic rivals, but Arsenal pose a different kind of test and Kane and his teammates are looking forward to facing Spanish coach Mikel Arteta's team.
As for Arsenal, who are still nursing the bitterness of losing last season's final on penalties to French side Paris Saint-Germain, they started the season strongly with 10 wins in 11 matches across all competitions.
Kane said, "It's a big game and we are facing one of the best teams in Europe, and you always have to enjoy these occasions. We are testing ourselves against one of the best, and we are playing at home, and the energy the fans give will make it a special night."
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